Nicholas braves elements in bid for Solheim glory

The teams’ practice sessions at Killeen Castle have been conducted largely in wet conditions and the forecast for the three days of competition indicates there could be more rain on the way.

Last year’s Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in Wales was similarly affected and had to be extended to a four-day competition, something Nicholas would be content to see repeated.

Nicholas, the former Yorkshire Ladies champion and two-time major winner, said: “I think they have contingency plans because obviously that could have been a possibility. The weather forecast tends to change on a daily basis, so they’ll be monitoring it. And if we have to go Monday, we’ll have to go Monday.”

Nicholas was reluctant to see possible bad weather as an advantage for her side, though.

“A lot of the players have played all over the world and are very experienced,” she added.

“It could be (an advantage) in some ways, but I know that I’ve played in bad weather over in America, and the Americans seem to adapt very, very well.”

Nicholas played in the Solheim Cup six times and is captaining the side for the second successive contest having led Europe to a 16-12 defeat at Sugar Grove two years ago. That was a third loss in a row for Europe but, although the Americans will again be the favourites, Nicholas is confident her team, which contains five rookies, can rise to the occasion.

She said: “They’re up for it. They’ve lost the last three matches and they want to win the cup back just as the Americans want to win as well.”